Party Time!
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Lisette
21 Februari 2015 | Zuid-Afrika, Alicedale
By now I am pretty much used to living in South Africa. Fortunately every now and then we get a surprise visit by the Dutch weather with temperatures in which it is even cold when you walk in jeans and a sweater. The workload also increased compared to last week and I think that that's the main reason why our lovely pets decide to visit us less often. Nevertheless we have already met the cape cobra, the most venomous snake in the area, extremely large crickets (the size of my thumb) and a grasshopper the size of my phone.
Monday we had our first practical in which we visited Born Free. Born Free is an organization which saves animals from small cages, such as zoos and circuses. Born Free at Shamwari Game Reserve just a small drive away has some lions and leopard which now live in bigger enclosements and are being given dead meat to eat. After this visit we were asked to write a small report about our experience there and our ethical opinions. Very interesting to look at it from an ethical perspective!
We have also had some survival classes. I know now how to make a fire, well.. on paper.., and how to navigate according to the stars and to the sun. I somehow have the feeling that they did not know that whenever I enter a shop and leave the same shop, I walk the same way back as I arrived until I notice that I have already seen it all. Oops.
Nevertheless are these classes supposed to prepare me for a later practical in which I will spend a night in the bush. I think I have to order a big amount of DEET already.
Also I figured out that my biology and Latin classes at secondary school have not been a complete waste! Studying about mammals and bird and the terms which belong to it is so much easier now. In 35 degrees we identified 10 skulls according to the teeth and other characteristics of the skull. My roommate and me still have 2 weeks to spot 20 birds, to draw them, to make photos of them and to identify them. Unfortunately I cannot even recognise a sparrow so this is going to be fun.
Our second practical existed of a visit to the Daniell Cheetah Breeding Project close by. This project speaks for itself. Cheetahs and some other cats are being bred over here and in order to prevent incest the cats are swapped with other cats from other projects and parks. Some cats were tame, meaning that we had the opportunity to pet some cheetahs! Of course this is not really ethically correct, but that's something we have to forget for a short while. Also I was reminded by my car sickness due to which I missed lunch and had to lie in bed for about 1.5 hours instead. Fortunately the other students told me that I had missed the best meal up until now; lasagne with a lot of meat and a shitload of cheese. Too bad..
Party time! Friday night we went for pizza at Louis pub and afterwards it was time for a pool party. I had to wait a while before people were willing to swim, but at least there was vodka! Also I am now fully integrated in Alicedale by participating in a Roadkill Shot in which God knows what is thrown on the bar what we have to lick off it. Do not forget that our beloved hostess Karien deliberately swipes it all over your face while you are busy licking the bar. Furthermore I have had a lot of fun while dancing and while socializing with drunk adult guys from all over the world. Too bad my Hangover Crew wasn't there to save me every now and then but I survived it all. About 2 o'clock we finally went for a dive in the pool and afterwards we were getting warm again at the camp fire while enjoying some vodka again and while talking about Bruce Springsteen.
I hope next week will be just as much fun, if we forget about the fact that in 2 weeks my first exam has to be written and my first presentation has to be given.
Monday we had our first practical in which we visited Born Free. Born Free is an organization which saves animals from small cages, such as zoos and circuses. Born Free at Shamwari Game Reserve just a small drive away has some lions and leopard which now live in bigger enclosements and are being given dead meat to eat. After this visit we were asked to write a small report about our experience there and our ethical opinions. Very interesting to look at it from an ethical perspective!
We have also had some survival classes. I know now how to make a fire, well.. on paper.., and how to navigate according to the stars and to the sun. I somehow have the feeling that they did not know that whenever I enter a shop and leave the same shop, I walk the same way back as I arrived until I notice that I have already seen it all. Oops.
Nevertheless are these classes supposed to prepare me for a later practical in which I will spend a night in the bush. I think I have to order a big amount of DEET already.
Also I figured out that my biology and Latin classes at secondary school have not been a complete waste! Studying about mammals and bird and the terms which belong to it is so much easier now. In 35 degrees we identified 10 skulls according to the teeth and other characteristics of the skull. My roommate and me still have 2 weeks to spot 20 birds, to draw them, to make photos of them and to identify them. Unfortunately I cannot even recognise a sparrow so this is going to be fun.
Our second practical existed of a visit to the Daniell Cheetah Breeding Project close by. This project speaks for itself. Cheetahs and some other cats are being bred over here and in order to prevent incest the cats are swapped with other cats from other projects and parks. Some cats were tame, meaning that we had the opportunity to pet some cheetahs! Of course this is not really ethically correct, but that's something we have to forget for a short while. Also I was reminded by my car sickness due to which I missed lunch and had to lie in bed for about 1.5 hours instead. Fortunately the other students told me that I had missed the best meal up until now; lasagne with a lot of meat and a shitload of cheese. Too bad..
Party time! Friday night we went for pizza at Louis pub and afterwards it was time for a pool party. I had to wait a while before people were willing to swim, but at least there was vodka! Also I am now fully integrated in Alicedale by participating in a Roadkill Shot in which God knows what is thrown on the bar what we have to lick off it. Do not forget that our beloved hostess Karien deliberately swipes it all over your face while you are busy licking the bar. Furthermore I have had a lot of fun while dancing and while socializing with drunk adult guys from all over the world. Too bad my Hangover Crew wasn't there to save me every now and then but I survived it all. About 2 o'clock we finally went for a dive in the pool and afterwards we were getting warm again at the camp fire while enjoying some vodka again and while talking about Bruce Springsteen.
I hope next week will be just as much fun, if we forget about the fact that in 2 weeks my first exam has to be written and my first presentation has to be given.
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
